Where liberty dwells, there is my country.

Seeing as it's the Holiday season and yesterday was Thanksgiving, I feel that this blog post is necessary. In early November my Step Father, Floyd was sent to Training before he leaves in December to fight for our Country. He will be stationed in Afghanistan for a year with his Military Police Unit with the Army National Guard. There is never a good time to send a loved one off to war, but it is especially hard to close to the holiday season. Thanksgiving is strange when someone you care about is so far away, and Christmas morning will not be the same this year. Though it's selfish of me, I am most upset that he won't be able to share my Miss America experience with me, seeing as Floyd was so supportive and helpful on my journey to Miss Delaware. 

I want to encourage all of you to thank someone you know who has served, or is still serving this great country we call home. It is these people who preserve our freedom, protect American justice, and fight to ensure that we are able to have the rights our founding fathers fought so hard to give us. It takes a true hero to give of themselves for a greater cause, and I for one am so proud to say that one of these heroes is in my family. Take the time out to send out a thank you, and send up a prayer for those in service, and remember that there are people who are fighting to protect you, your families, and your rights as citizens of the United States of America. God Bless the U.S.A. and thank you and Godspeed to our military servicemen and women.

 "This nation will remain the land of the free, only so long as it is the home of the brave." -Elmer Davis

The Most Thankful Post

 Hey all! I just returned home from the ABC Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Parade in Philadelphia; what an AMAZING experience. How many people get to say that they rode on a float with Miss America in their lifetime? Well now I can, so, ha! No seriously though it was absolutely incredible to spend the day with the lovely Miss New Jersey and the fabulous Miss Pennsylvania, and of course Laura Kaeppeler, our incredible Miss America 2012! It was the experience of a lifetime, and one of my best days so far as Miss DE! I'll have a more detailed blog post about my recent appearances as soon as my computer and I get some alone time, but I thought I would present you with a short list of things I am thankful for.

• My family is the greatest. They have been incredibly supportive of all of my far-fetched dreams and have helped me make them a reality. Thank you for always being there for me and helping me achieve my goals, even though they might be a little lofty.
• I have so many amazing friends who have been with me every step of this journey, thank you all for allowing me to be in your lives!
• Super thankful for being able to represent this wonderful state at the Miss America pageant in January, and for God making it all possible.
• The supportive and wonderful Miss Delaware Board of Directors, who volunteer their time and expertise to help prepare me for Miss America, and treat me like one of their own children.
• As a general rule of thumb, I hate cats, but my cat is super awesome and I'm glad that he's seriously confused and thinks he's a dog. You rock, Ziggy.
• I'm thankful for coffee, my one true love, the one that will never let me down, (unless it's decaf.)
• Thank you to all of those who have served and are still serving our country. You are true American heroes and you are greatly appreciated.
• Thank you JK Rowling for being a huge part of my childhood, even though you don't know it. Still waiting on my letter to Hogwarts, though.
• Thanks for the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins, and showing me that life goes on after Harry Potter. 
• Thank you Lancome for your amazing mascaras. If Hypnose lashes was a man I would marry him.
• I'm thankful for lipstick, especially of the red variety.
• I'm thankful that Magic Mike was created. Seriously, thank you, from the entire female population of the world, and especially for casting my fictional celeb boyfriend, Matt Bomer.
• I'm thankful for high heels, even though I'm already obscenely tall.
• I'm incredibly thankful for Alpha Xi Delta for giving me a place to call home at the University of Delaware, and for giving me over 100 sisters that God forgot to give me. Xi love y'all.
• I'm glad I have an 8-year old sister so I sort of have an excuse for watching as much Spongebob as I do.
• I'm thankful for bacon, but only crispy bacon, and scrapple, love me some scrapple. 
• I'm thankful for Lana Del Rey's music, because she is a boss.
• Thank you to my big comfy bed for always being here waiting for me when I return to home base, you're the bomb.
• One last huge shout out to Cherry Chapstick, you have my endorsement along with Katy Perry's.

Okay, now I'm off to stuff my face with everything and anything on the table, sorry Paul Timmons, aka World's greatest personal trainer. Everyone have a safe, happy, and fattening Turkey Day! God Bless!

Ephesians 5:20

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Blog Slacker

I have been a total blog slacker lately, and for that, I apologize. I promise it's only because I've been doing a bunch of super awesome Miss Delaware things! Let's see, since I last blogged I have been to some pretty cool events, like the Blue Jean Ball for Autism Delaware, A Meals on Wheels Benefit, the Miles 4 Melanoma 5K, a Health Fair at La Red Health Center, A Light the Night Walk, A CMN fundraiser, Johnstown Bridal Suite, and I've turned a year older. 

Miles 4 Melanoma was an incredible experience for me. There were over 1500 people there to support the cause and I had the opportunity to share my message with all of them. I made friends with a beautiful princess named Grace, and received a flower and a kiss on the cheek from a 4-year old whom I'm fairly certain is the cutest little boy on the whole planet. I am thrilled to say that I will be partnering with Miles 4 Melanoma throughout the year, educating people about skin cancer and raising funds for the cause. 

Princess Grace, who had a crown just like me!

My time at La Red Health Center was so special. I am a Spanish minor at UD and after spending time abroad in Spain, I'm near fluent in Spanish. La Red is a health clinic in Georgetown, DE and it is a great resource for those in our area who are without medical insurance coverage. They are a bilingual, inviting, and welcoming facility. I had a blast hanging out and I even received a balloon animal from my friend, Galilea!

After the Health Fair, I surprised my Miss DE "little sister" Audrey at her 6th birthday party! Audrey is a very special little girl and she will always have a place in my heart.

At the Blue Jean Ball I had a blast raising money for Autism Delaware and sampling all of the incredible foods they had to offer, (including some incredible cookies that I couldn't resist, sorry Paul.) Since my sorority, Alpha Xi Delta has Autism Speaks as their philanthropy, this is a cause I have a great interest in. I was fortunate enough to be a live model for a beautiful diamond and pearl necklace from Bellinger's Jewelers in Rehoboth Beach, DE. I was having a great time working the room when out of nowhere, the drop pearl fell off of the necklace! I was absolutely mortified until the lovely and understanding owners told me that it was easy to fix. File that under things that would only ever happen to me...yikes.

With Royal Classic Queen of Queens and Mrs. Blades at the Blue Jean Ball

   

Casual Tebow with MDOT

My friends Renee Bull, who is my amazing, gracious, and insanely supportive first runner-up, and Janey Covel, who is just about as sweet as sugar and is competing in Delaware again this year (YAY!) held a CMN fundraiser recently, and I was so happy to be in attendence. It was a talent show with acts from around the state, including Renee and Janey, and my incredibly talented little sister, Morgan Burris, Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen!


Originally I signed up to be a part of Ashley's Crew at the Light the Night Walk to honor my friend, Ashley, who was diagnosed with leukemia on October 10th of last year. Ashley is now in remission,  has finished a half marathon, gone on a white water rafting trip, and was a featured survivor. When Miss Delaware was asked to be in attendance I had to laugh, because I knew my crown did not match my Ashley's Crew t shirt! My Grandmother is also a survivor of Leukemia, so blood cancer is a cause that I hold very close to my heart.

Last but certainly not least, I was fortunate enough to spend the weekend with the World's most fabulous Executive Director, Debi Wilson, in Johnstown, PA. Miss Delaware is fortunate enough to have her Miss America wardrobe provided by the Bridal Suite in Johnstown, and let me tell you, my wardrobe is FABULOUS. Deborah and Ronnie, the owners of the store are absolutely 2 of the most warm-hearted, welcoming, and helpful women I have ever met, and I am so thankful for all they do for our organization. They made me feel like a princess all day, and helped me pick out a Miss America wardrobe that is to DIE FOR. I guess y'all will have to come to my send-off on December 9th at Dover Downs to see it (shameless plug.)

With Emily after picking out my Miss America wardrobe!


So, clearly I've been super busy lately but that's no excuse for being so M.I.A.! New post coming soon, I promise, about the lovely local titleholders who will be competing for my title in June!

Until next time (Which will not be a month from now, I swear)
Alyssa